LUMUMBA TASKS NIGERIA ON AFRICAN RENAISSANCE
By Tajudeen Babamale
The expansive campus of the University of Ilorin was turned into a beehive of activities last week, as dignitaries from all over the world converged on its tastefully decorated campus for the series of activities organised to mark the University’s Golden Jubilee.
The anniversary, which was kicked off penultimate Sunday (November 23, 2025) with special Church services, was highlighted with an Anniversary Lecture and Fundraising for an iconic project for the University held at the University Auditorium last Thursday (November 27, 2025), while a special Jumaat service was held last Friday (November 28, 2025) at the University Central Mosque to bring the action-packed anniversary to an end.
Delivering the Anniversary Lecture a distinguished Pan-Africanist and renowned public speaker, Prof. P. L. O. Lumumba, called on the Nigerian government and the country at large to brace-up to lead other African countries to greatness.
Prof. Lumumba noted that Nigeria, as a country, must not think about herself alone but always think about the rest of Africa with a view to providing leadership for the entire continent.
The Anniversary Speaker said that Nigeria is endowed with all the resources it would require to lead African renaissance, saying that with its population and material and human resources, the country must not shy away from this responsibility.
According to him, the continent of Africa is currently facing food insecurity, political instability, and crises in some countries like Sudan, saying this is the time for Nigeria to lead the rest of the continent to prosperity.
Prof. Lumumba, who is also a seasoned legal practitioner and former Head of the Kenyan Anti-Corruption Agency, highlighted some of the areas Nigeria is spectacularly blessed with, including mineral and natural resources, as well as human resources. “If you look at the human resources that Nigeria has, you will be amazed,” he said.
The multiple award-winning scholar highlighted the fact that many Nigerians are doing wonders and making meaningful impacts in many developed nations as professionals, and that there is hardly any nation in the world one will visit without any Nigerian professional making a positive impact in that area. “When you travel outside this country, whether in Europe or America, whether in Africa, you will find Nigerian doctors, engineers, or professors in that country,” he added.
Prof. Lumumba called on African countries to work together and create a visa-free movement for African citizens. “I look forward to the day African citizens can move freely without visas. I look forward to that day when African citizens can visit African nations without signing an exit or entry form,” he said.
He advised that citizens must decolonize their minds and mentality if Africa is to be great. He explained that they must do away with complacency, and do the right thing now.
Prof. Lumumba, also called for cultural emancipation through the teaching of various African languages, such as Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Swahili, and Afrikaans, among others, to save their culture.
He also canvassed for a pride of place for intellectuals across the continent. According to Prof. Lumumba, Africa can only be great when the intellectuals and academics are given their rightful place. He lamented that many conferences organised on education and health in Africa have failed to yield positive results because Africans have failed to implement most of the resolutions of such summits.
Prof. Lumumba said that it is time the Nigerian government and governments in other African countries recognise the rightful place of universities and their intellectuals as agents of research, innovation, and development.
Speaking on the University of Ilorin, Prof. Lumumba acknowledged the acclaimed better by far status of the University considering its size, reputation and edifying accomplishments of its alumni who are doing well all over the world.
He congratulated the University on attaining the age of 50, saying that UNILORIN has not only come of age but it is also endowed with the potentials to rule the world.
Prof. Lumumba encouraged the University to introduce more programmes that would make it the springboard of African renaissance.
The highlights of the event included the presentation of an Anniversary book and the conferment of award on the visitor to the University, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR; the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON; the Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Dauda Lawal and Prof. Lumumba, among others. Institutional awards were also conferred on the National Universities Commission (NUC); the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB); the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, (NELFUND) among several others.
About ₦1,000,000,000 was also raised at the event with ₦500,000,000 coming from friends and associates of the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS), Dr Zach Adedeji while the Chairman of KURSHI Investment Limited, Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, MFR, donated ₦200,000,000 and the Waziri of Ilorin and former President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON, donated ₦100,000,000. The Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Dauda Lawal, and a prominent businessman, Alhaji Sheriff Shagaya also donated ₦50,000,000 each as Mallam AbdulHakeem Mustapha, SAN, Hon. Tunji Olawuyi and Zenith Bank also donated ₦10,000,000 each.
